Method of making bellows material for gas-meter diaphragms



"Dec 14,1;926. i, H 1,611,106

" E. S. DICKEY v METH6D OF MAlfxING BELLOWS MATERIAL FOR GAS METER DIAPHBAGMS Filed August 30, 192? 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 14, 1926.

E. S. DICKEY METHOD OF MAKING 'BELLOWS MATERIAL FOR GAS METER DIAPHRAGMS Filed August 30, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii 1:11

Dec. 14,1926. 1,611,106

E. S. DICKEY METHOD OF MAIING BELLOWS MATERIAL FOR GAS METER DIAPHRAGMS Filed August 192? 4 Sheets-Sheet L5 Dec. 14,1926. 1,611,106

' E. S. DICKEY METHOD OF MAKING. 55111111011 15 MATERIAL FOR GAS METER DIAPHRAGMS 1 11m August so, 192: 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 its Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

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EDMUND S. DICKEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB TO AMERICAN METER COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWABE.

METHOD or Maxine BELLOWS MATERIAL non sAs-mn'rnn marmmems.

; & Application filed August 30, 1922. Serial No. 585,266. I

This invention relates to improvements in bellows material for gas meter diaphragms, and method of making the same.

Diaphragms for dry type gas meters for 6 domestic purposes have been 1 invariably made of leather, and inorder to get a leather suitable for this, skins of various kinds have been tried, which have been variously treated to make them impervious to gas, and finally, whole sheep skin or hide of the best selected stock, on account of the peculiar physical characteristics of this hide, such as .pliability, strength, and absorbent qualities that make it receptive of the oils and other in the treatment ofthe leather, destroying,

absorbing, or otherwise eliminating them,

for no matter how thoroughly the leather 3 now commonly used is treated, on both sides, necessarily from the outside,.there is always an intermediate area into which the oils and greases do not penetrate, and furthermore, lack of uniformity in the thickness or character of the leather, or ;the presence of spots, makes it impossible to. produce ameter bellows of uniformity, both as to character of the material and its action in operation. The elimination of the artificial oils by the gas condensates causes rotting, drying out, bleaching, shrinking, and otherwise seriously aflects the bellows material,

with the result that the lengthof service and accuraeyof the meter is curtailed substances with which the leather is treated. I

The object of this invention is to overabsolutely gastight under all of the condi tions in which diaphragms of this character are used.

I propose primarily,.and as representing the est embodiment of my ,invention, to take layers of textile material and unite them in a strip by suitable stitching so that the layers will be joined together, or united for uniform simultaneous movement in all parts, as Well as to' provide-between the layers pockets for recelving and holding a preservative, sealin and filling substance, or a substance Wl'llCh is worked into and fills, seals and lubricates the interstices or pores of the material, and finally coat the strip on both the outer sides with a substance that combines with the substance between the layers, for further efl'ective'sealin ,and lubrication. I i

further. propose to provide a line, or lines, of stitching that not only serves to unite or aid in uniting the'layers of fabric together, but in the final diaphragm, serves an additional advantageous purpose, this the layer construction, I may take plates of split leather, which plates may be entirely of either :the grain face or of the fiesher side of the skin, and accordingly much cheaper than the whole skin.

Furthermore, I may previously shape'the strip, when made of fabric or textilematerial, so that after. the filling and sealing "material hasbeen introduced between .the

layers, and worked into the pores or interstices of the material, the strip may be readily attached to the diaphragm rings Without the usual pucker incident to adjusting a skin strip. 7

Following the use of textile material, is another feature deserving of consideration. The stitching together of sections of leather diaphragms now commonly used, as shown in Fig. 14, is a tedious operation requiring great care to revent the stitches from'bein carried all t e way through the materia for if they are carried through the leather, complete punctures or perforation" are made that give trouble later from seam leaks, no matter how thoroughly the leather is treated or saturated with the artificial oils usually employed; whereas, incident to stitching entirely through layers of textile fabric, there are none of these disadvantages, since the character of the stitching is the same as that of the material which surrounds it, and if anything, augmenting the filling possibilities rather than detracting from them.

In the drawings herewith serving to illustrate the method: I v

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a strip of fabric, before stitched or treated.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the manner of stitching.

Fi 3 is a sectional perspective view showing the strip stitched, and the pockets there-- of filled with the sealing and lubricating substance, before it has been worked intothe interstices of the fabric.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the layers of the strip pressed together, and intended to show the condition of the fabric after the filling, sealing and lubricating substance has been absorbed into the fabric.

Fig. 5 is a plan view, showing the manner of cutting the strip preparatory to forming into a band suitable for attachment to the diaphragm rings.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a band of filled, sealed and lubricated material ready to be placed upon the diaphragm rings.

' Fig. 7 is an edge View of a diaphragm construction in accordance with my invention, before final treatment.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged broken sectional view of a portion of a diaphragm, also before the final treatment.

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view of a portion of the diaphragm in its final condition.

. Fig. 10 is a perspective sectional view of-a part of the bellows portion of the diaphragm showing the same shaped previous to attachment to the diaphragm rings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective sectional View showing the strip of fabric made in tubular form.

Fig. 12 is a group of fragments of the textile strip in plan, showing different manners of stitching the layers together.

Fig. 13 is a broken detail perspective view of part of a strip, the layers of which are leather.

Fig. 14 is a detail cross sectional view showing the usual manner of stitching to-' gether leather sections of bellows material, the thickness of the sections being greatly exaggerated.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a strip formed of two layers or plates 2 and 3 of textile fabric, preferably closely woven fabric, and I have found by experiment, that the fabric known on the market as middy twill muslin is suitable for my purpose.

The fabric is cut of a width which when .folded once upon itself will form a strip .of the desired width, and it will be understood at the outset, that the widths will vary as well as the lengths of the strips according to the size of the diaphragm. After foldin the fabric to form the layers or plates 2 an i), I then stitch the strips longitudinally adjacent to its longitudinal edges, as indicated at 4, thus providing longitudinal edges 5 outside the stitches, which edges 5 are, in agplying the substitute to the metallic diap ragm rings, crimped into the grooves of the rings, as shown in Figures 7 8 and 9, and secured therein by cords a in the usual manner.

The strip is further united centrally and longitudinally preferably by a row of stitching 6. This stitching is for several important purposes. Primarily, it divides the strip'into two similar longitudinal or lengthwise pockets 7, into which for the entire length of the'stri-p is introduced a preservative and lubricating filler 8, preferably of powdered graphite of the proper consistency, V

and in the final condition of the strip, the central stitching 6 forms a stiffener for the arc of the bellows portion insuring the prop? er actionof the material in the expanding and collapsing operation of the bellows. Furthermore, the stitching forms definite pockets which contain and hold and keep evenly distributed the graphite filling.

The graphite is worked into the. interstices of the fabricuntil the major portion thereof has been completely absorbed by the fabric bringinc the strip to substantially the condition shown in Fig. 4, and it will be-understood that throughout all of the views, and especially 3, 4 and 6, the thickness of the layers of fabric is very greatly exaggerated.

After the graphite is worked thoroughly into the interstices of the fabric, the strips are cut into proper lengths, as indicated in Fig. 5, and then as shown in Fig. 6, the

strlp is united at its ends by two rows of stitches 9. The band is then placed upon the grooved flanges 10 and 11'of the metallic diaphragm rings 12 and 13, and secured there by. the cords a, as before indicated, there being used in the attachment the usual materials, such. as shellac, with which the cords are coated to make an absolutely gastight joint.

After the strip is secured to the rings,

I treat the strip both inside and out, as indieated at b, with a coating of a mixture of dry graphite and suitable grease, such as petroleum jelly, which penetrates the fabric and unites with the filler which was introduced between the layers, and which was absorbed between the interstices of the layers, thus producing a strip or bellows of substantially homogeneous character, which cha'racterthe illustration in Fig. 9 is intended to show. I

The formation of the pockets made by the central stitching 6 I have found facilitate the uniform working in of the filler, as well as, as before stated, providing in the final condition of the bellows, a central stiffening portion which insures the proper action of the material in the expanding and collapsing movement of the bellows which it must constantly endure when gas is passing through the meter and being measured.

I have found that the use of powdered graphite of the proper grade, serves admirably the purpose of completely filling and sealing the interstices of the fabric, and atthe same time so lubricates the closely associated threads of the fabric as to reduce to a minimum the possibilities for gas absorption of the artificial lubricants of the bel, lows material, thereby maintaining the con- I tinued flexibility of the diaphragm.

As before stated, after the graphite filled strip is placed upon the diaphragm rings, the strip is coated both inside and out, as indicated at b, with a mixture of powdered graphite of the proper grade and consistency, and grease, such as petroleum jelly,

this coating being absorbed and uniting with the graphite introduced between the layers of fabric.

There is illustrated in the main figures, a strip formed of two layers, the layers ,bein formed by folding the fabric upon itsel and being stitched, as described. Further attention is called to the Figures 10, 11 and 12. which will be considered as modifications of the structure described, and I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the number of layers of material employed, or the manner of stitching them together, or

uniting them, and as shown in Fig. 11, the

strip maybe woven in true tubular form, and suitably stitched, but preferably, by themarginal lines of stitching 14, and central line 15, the result being, as in the con-' struction first described, the provision of pockets 16, corresponding in every essential,

way with the pockets? for the reception of the filler.

' As shown inFig. 12, additional stitches may beprovided, such as the vertical rows I 17, and longitudinal rows 18,-which form rectangular pockets 19, in the fragment 20, ancliwhere stitches ofjthis form are used it is desirable to run an additional row of stitches 21 centrally of the strip so that in the completed dia hragm, stiffening means will be provided or the central portion or are of the bellows. In the fragment 22, oblique additional stitches 23 are made in two directions, thus forming substantially rectangular pockets 24, and in the fragment 25, additional obliquestitches 26 are made in one direction, forming the elongated rhomboidal pockets 27. These various lines of stitching serve, as before suggested, to unite the layers of fabric, and at the same time provide comparatively diminutive pockets for stabilizing the filling material that has been introduced between the layers and thoroughly worked into the interstices of the fabric, before the additional stitches are made.

Previous to placing the strip upon the diaphragm rings, I may shape it as shown in Fig. 10, wherein. there is formed a central dome portion 28, which merges into laterally extending marginal edges 29, which seat accurately and smoothly in the grooves in the diaphragm rings,in which grooves they are held in the ordinary way.

This preshaping eliminates the wrinkling grease that gives admirable results, andthismixture is preferably applied to the fabric a temperawhile hot, and approximately at ture of 120 Fahrenheit. 2

I do not limit myself to the kind of grease I used for this outside treatment, but as-just suggested, I have found that the combination of petroleum jelly and graphite makes an admirable mixture, nor do I desire to limit myself in any way to the manner of stitching the layers together, for obviously, the stitches may be run in various directions, and made to cross each other at varying intervals, or they may be straight, or

undulatory as may be desired, for in all events, they are intended for the layers will move together, and for forming pockets for stabilizing the'filling mater al that has been introduced between the layers.

Idesire it understood that, by the use of .tubular by folding one layer upon the other,

and stitching along one marginal edge, ,01'

urpos'e of uniting the layers of fabric so t at the by stitching upon two marginal edges, as

shown in Fig. 2, or by the weaying'in tubular form, as shownin the modification, Fig. 11, or rendered tubular by uniting'the two marginal edges of thelayers upon the diaphragm rings.

In referring to the modification illustrated in Fig. 13, the numeral 30 designates two layers of leather, which as hereinbefore indicated, may either be the grain faceor the flesher side of the leather, or a leather of cheap, inferior grade, which however, by reason of the construction of the strip with the possibilities and facilities of treatment which have heretofore been indicated, produces a bellows material of very acceptable quality, which possesses advantages over the 'material heretofore used.

' being stitched together by stitches 34;, which it Wlll be observed do not extend entirely through the sections at points exposed to gas action.

Claims.

1. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a tubular member of flexible material, and impregnating said member from the inside thereof with a non-setting comminuted substance to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the materla.

2. That process for formingand treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a tubular flexible member of suitable material, impregnating said member from the inside with a powdered lubricantto completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material.

3.. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry t pe gas meter diaphragms and the like, WhlCh consists in providing a tubular flexible member of suit-- able material, and impregnating sald member from the inside thereof with dry powdered graphite to com letely fill and seal the interstices or pores o the material.

4. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a tubular flexible member of suitable materlal, and impregnating said member from the inside thereof with a non-setting comminuted substance to fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material, and in finally coating both sides of the member with a substance that permeates said material, and combines with the first mentioned impregnating material, to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material.

That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms or thelike, which consists in providing a tubular member of flexible material, impregnating the member from the inside with dry graphite, and on the outside with a grease formed of a mixture of oil and dry graphite, to completely fill and seal the pores of the material. I

6. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry "type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a tubular flexible member of suit able material, and strengthenin longitudi nally said member to provide a efinite stiffening arc, and impregnating said member from the inside with a substance for filling and sealing the pores or interstices of the material.

7. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like. which consists, in providing a tubular flexible member of suitable material, strengthening said tubular member longitudinally to provide definite and permanent stiffening arc, impregnating said member from the inside with powdered graphite, and on the outside with a grease formed of a mixture of powdered graphite and oil, to completely fill and seal the interstices or pores of the material.

8. That process for'.forming and treating bellows material fordry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a flexible strip of textile material in layers, and impregnating the strip from between the layers with a non-setting comminuted substance to completely fill and seal the interstices or pores of the material.

9. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a flexible strip of'textile material, formed in layers, impregnating the strip from between the layers with powdered graphite to completely fill and seal the interstices or pores of the material, and lubricate the closely associated parts and insure the continued flexibility of the material.

10. That process for forming and treatmg bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a tubular flexible member. of textile material, and impregnating the member from the inside with a substance that fills and seals the pores of the fabric, and finally applying to the outside of the member a nonsetting comminuted substance in a heated. condition, which permeates the textile material and combines with the first mentioned impregnating material for the purpose set the inside with powdered graphite, and

finally applying to the outer sides of said member, a mineral grease composed of powdered graphite and petroleum jelly.

12. That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a flexible strip in layers, and impregnating the strip from between the layers with a substance to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material, and providing pockets between the layers to stabilize the impregnating material.

13. That process for forming and treating bellows material, for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a flexible strip in layers, and impregnating the strip from between the layers with a substance to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material, and

providing pockets by stitching between the layers, which unite the layers and stabilize the impregnating material.

14. That process for .forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, whic 1 consists in providing a flexible strip in layers,.and impregnating the strip from between the layers with a substance to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material, and providing pockets between the layers to stabilize the impregnating material, and finally applying to the outer sides of the layer s, a substance which ermeates the material and combines with t e first mentioned in'ipre ztating material.

15. lhat process for' forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in pro viding a tubular member of flexible textile material, and stitching layers of flexible material with stitches that extend entirely through the material for the purposes set forth, and impregnating said-member with a substance to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material.

16. That process for forming and treatingbellows material for dry. type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a strip of textile material formed in layers, impregnating said member from the inside with a. substance to completely fill and seal the pores or interstices of the material, cutting the strip in suitable lengths, overlapping the ends of said strip and stitching them together with stitches 'that extend entirely through the ends of the strip, and finally treating the material from the outside with a substance which coniin providing a tubular flexible member of suitable material, impregnating said member from the inside thereof with a non-setting comminuted substance to fill and seal the pores 0r interstices of the material, coating both sides of the member with a Substance that permeates said material and combines with the first mentioned impregnating substance to completely fill and seal the pores, or interstices of the material, the last mentioned substance being applied to the material while hot.

' 19 That process for forming and treating bellows material for dry type gas meter diaphragms and the like, which consists in providing a tubular flexible member of suitable material, impregnatin said member from the inside thereof with a non-setting comminuted substance to fill and seal the pores, or interstices of the material, coating both sides of the member with a substance that permeates said material and combines with the first mentioned impregnating substance to completely fill and seal the pores, or interstices of the material at a temperature of I approximately F In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EDMUND SI DIGKEY. 

